Refrigerator



Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,463

J. B. KNAUSS REFRIGERATOR Filed April 14, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 z V :7 .73 z;

Guam

Feb. 5, 1929. 1,701,463

J. B. KNAuss I REFRIGERATOR Filed April 14, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i i awuenfo'o 57 M 6 M Feb; 5, 1929. 1,701,463

J. B. KNAUSS REFRIGERATOR Filed April 14, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 awueutdz WZW Patented Feb. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,701,463 PATENT OFFICE.-

J'OHN' B. IINAUSS, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PORTSMOUTH STOVE & RANGE COMPANY, OF PORTSMOUTH, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

. REFRIGERATOR. J

Application'flled April 14,

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerators, in providing composite walls for increased insulation, interiorly lined, and exteriorly covered with porcelain enameled sheet metal, presenting an all-metal structure making a sanitary and beautiful product.

The method of construction of the exterior covering includes a flanged metal one-piece top and flanged metal sides eliminating the use of corner and joint covering strlps, pro-v -vides for a more rigid structure and facilitates its manufacture, and with the metal rounded at its corners adds to the beauty of the exterior design. a

The linings for the interior of the refrigerator are built up to represent one p1ece structures and arranged to provide a rectangular ice chamber having a galvanized sheet metal removable base carrying a removable ice supporting rack and an L-shapedL prpvision, chamber, the ice chamber and the provision chamber having openings therethrough for communication with each other, one at the base of the ice chamber, and the second at the top of the adjacent walls, dividing theice chamber and provision chamber.

The L-shaped design of provision chamber provides a horizontal wall portion beneath the ice chamber which has an opening therethrough, for communication with the ice chamber, and is channeled about the opening for collecting andldraining any condensation seeping from the ice chamber so as to' prevent the same from entering the provision chamber. I

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator casing with an exterior metal covering, the me al pressed and shaped to eliminate the use ofvcorner or joint trimmings, and to give rigidity and beauty to the "structure.

Further, another object islto provide an all metal lining in the formation of a sub: stantially L-sha ed provision chamber with 'the walls forme and welded into a. one-piece. unit, the L shape offsetting the structure, pre 'senting a horizontal wall which isinimediately beneath the ice chamber, having an Opening therethrough for. communication with the ice chamber andchanneled aboutthe a opening to preventcondensation leakage or seepage into the provisionchamber. 7, Another object of the invention .isto pro ...vide a refrigerator lining of sheet metal to "form an ice chamber, the walls thereof we'ldchamber. I

1927. swarm. 183,878.

.ed together to present a one-piece unit-open at its base and marginally flanged about the I base to form a ledge for supporting a removable p'an-shaped and channeled base having a central opening therethrough registering with the opening in the horizontal wall of the provision chamber beneath, the base supportmg a removable ice supporting rack.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator with a spaced double wall between the base of the ice chamber and the provision chamber which it overlies, the walls channeled each about an opening therethrough providing a plurality 'of collecting and drainage troughs, one for collecting the condensation from the ice, and the second to prevent seepage or drainage into the provision chamber.

Another'object is to provide a removable tray, as an ice compartment bottom, produced by stamping from a single piece of material to provide a $10 ing depression in the base thereof arranged for rapidly draining ofi' moisture from all points of the tray surface.

Another object is to pro-vide a metal covering for the refrigerator top, formed of a single sheet of metal and marginally flanged to provide rounded edges eliminating corner or strip trimmings.

Other objects relate to the general construction, to the fabricaton of the frame work, and the composite insulation wall structure of the casing, sheet metal, covered and lined.

Figurel is a sectional view looking toward the rear of the refrigerator andtaken centrally and longitudinally thereof, showing the insulation features and the improved drainage means at the base of the ice com- 1 partment or chamber. f i Y Figure 2 is a sectional view taken online 22, of Fig. 1, further illustrating the construction of the inner parts of the refrigerator. 1 v

Figure asectional view taken on line 33, of Fig. 1, showing the insulation of the .doors and illustrating the formation of the drainage surface of the removable tray at the base of the ice compartment. I

Figure is a perspective view of the drainage tray; o1; removable bottom for the 'ice The refrigerator casing is of composite structure comprising a hollow frame insulae tion filled and eateriorly andinteriorly metal ease in manufacture, and comprises, a casing 2 as the ice compartment.

The lining is of sectional form, to provide separate units as a one-piece ice chamber, and a one-piece L-shaped provision chamber. The lining 1 forming the L-shaped provision chamber is made of sheet metal welded to comprise a single one-piece unit open at its front sides, and at each front side marginally flanged as at 3 so as to' overlap the inside of the casing frame and bring-its edges flush with the door openings. The lining 2 is shaped into a rectangular form providing an ice chamber likewise made of sheet metal welded to make a single one-piece unit, open at its front and base sides, and flanged to overlap the inside of the casing frame and bring its edges flush with the door opening with which it registers. The ice chamber is disposed in the offset portion of the provision chamber, thus bringing one side wall adjacent and parallel with a corresponding wall of the provision chamber to which it is secured by a bolt 4, and above an opening formed in said wall, toward the top thereof.

The upper wall 5 of the provision chamber beneath the ice chamber ispr'ovided with a central opening and channeled about the refrigerator to protect it against, leakage of moisture or condensation into the provision chamber. The base of the ice chamber is open and its walls have a marginal flan e 6 with the extremities flared downwarc? to drain into the channel in the cross wall of the provision chamber spaced on the base of the ice chamber. This flange 6 also provides a sup orting ledge for a removable bottom or rainage tray 7.

The removable tray or ice chamber base 7 (see Figure 4) comprises a pan structure.

having a central opening therethrough registering with the opening in the cross wall of the provision chamber and about the opening is formed witha channel8 and a rim 9', the rim having a crimped ppper edge 10. The channel 8 of the the tray receives the draina e from the ice dis osed upon the removab e rack supported by the tray. The channel. 8-is formed by opposingly inclining the metal from an annular medial line with the inner portion about the opening flanged upwardly to form a lip 12. The brim of the central aperture or lip 12 is arranged at a greater elevation than the floor of the tray so as to prevent overflow. The tray depression at its" forward point is comparatively shallow and slopes gradually in both directions to a point at the back of the tray from which a short drainage pipe 14 attached to the base of the tray extends downwardly. 1

The tray, with the exception of thedrainage pipe, is stamped from a single piece of. metal. The tray fits snugly within the ice compartment base and is easily removed from the ice compartment door 15 by canting and raising the tray from its normal position.

The surface of the top wall 5 of the horizontally extending portion of the provision chamber is stamped or drawn to provide a drainage surface corresponding identically to that of the tray base. The drainage pipe 16 for the lower surface is aligned with the upper pipe 14, the upper being telescopically engaged into the lower, and the lower in turn engaged into the upper end of a removable drainage pipe 17 extending down through the floor of'the provision chamber. The draft openings through the respective surfaces 8 and 5 are in alignment and the upper tray depression is nested slightly with the lower although spaced therefrom. The upper or tray surface is the primary drainage surface taking care of all drippage from the ice and substantially all sweating or condensation of va or on the ice compartment casing walls. ome sli ht amount of condensation or moisture, owever, seeps past the tray edge and is directed to the lower drainage surface or false bottom 5 by means of the ledge 6. The ledge 6 has the downwardly extending lip 18 at its inner edge, assisting in directin the moisture into the drainage groove on the lower surface. t

An ice supporting rest, comprisin a pair of legs 20 and the corrugated meta top 21 is disposed within the tray, the metal to of the tray being slightly above the dra t opening so as to baflie thef'same, for preventing any drainage through the aligning draft opening into the provision chamber below. The opening 22 provided at the upper portion of the side wall of the ice compartment andthe provision chamber allows the neces- 1soary circulation through the respective chamers.

The drain pipe 17 at the point where it extends into the floor of the refri erator, enters into a trap 23. The trap 23. is of a type to provide a water seal against the atmosphere entering into the provision chamber through providing for convenient arrangement of the articles stored-within the chamber. Entrance is had to the various compartments through an ice compartment door 15 and provision chamber doors respectively, a small door providing access through a doorway 27 into that portion of the provision chamber beneath the ice com artment and a large door 26 extending the eight of the-provision chamber and providing access into the remaining portion at the. side of the ice compartment.

The removable bottom or tray er the ice compartment is made of heavy material and receives the majority of the drainage water. Inasmuch as all the drainage from the ice is disposed thereon for drainage and due to the fact that the ice water is frequently laden with chemically impure matter, the removable bottom .tleteriorates comparatively rapidly. This is also true because of its contact with the ice it being subjectto damage due to the ice being heavily deposited upon it.

The secondary draining surface or false bottom below the removable bottom receives only the condensation moisture which seeps down the walls of the ice compartment, and its surface is sufliciently protected by a coating of enamel and the replacement tray above it, sufficiently protecting it against any damage due to chemical action or physical 'contact.

The linings of the refrigerator preferably are porcelain enameled on both sides except the removable base of the ice chamber and the ice supporting rack which are constructed of galvanized sheet metal. The refrigerator walls are preferably of composite form comprising a hollow wood framing intermediate- 1y reenforced at its corners with the hollow portion or space filled with sheet cork 28 spaced from the sides of the frame 30-3O to provide an air chamber on each side.

The framing upon its opposite sides is covered by a layer of insulating felt paper 31 and a layer of asphalt paper 32 against which the lining and outside metal coverings are placed. v

The frame work thus built up is suitably reinforced at the corners by wooden strips 34. The outer ca iing 33 is of heavy sheet steel bolted and welded together, the top section or cap 36 thereof formed of one piece to provide a rounded top and side corners and an inwardly turned flange 37 around its lower edge,

bolted to a companion flange 38 as part of the main body casing 39.

For purposes of assembly, the main casing 1s made in three sections suitably bolted together, the sides and front in one piece 39 and the back 40 and bottom 41 in separate pieces. The entire structure is supported on legs 42 or the casing may be extended to the floor and small casters provided thereon (not shown) if desired. The doors are fabricated in the same manner as the frame of the refrigerator to provide heavy insulated struc tures. a

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. drainage means for a refrigerator, comprising, an ice compartment, duplicate drainage surfaces at the base of said ice compartment, said surfaces disposed one above the other, and a ledge intermediate said drain- 7 age surfaces for supporting the upper drainage surface and directing any moisture escaplng past the same onto the lower surface.

2. A drainage means for a refrigerator,

age surfaces for supporting the upper drain-' age surface and directing any moisture es caping past the same onto the lowersurfacc.

3. A drainage means for a refrigerator, comprising, anL-shaped provision chamber, an ice compartment hung within the outline of the L-shaped provision chamber, an in- Wardly turned ledge formed around the open base end of the ice compartment, a removable bottom for said ice compartment supported on said ledge and providing a drainagechannel, a second drainage channel formed in the top wall of the provision chamber adjacent and spaced from the first drainage channel forreceiving any drainage matter dripping from the ledge, and means for carrying off the drainage matter from drainage surfaces.

4. A refrigerator structure, comprising, a provision ,chamber, an ice compartment disposed within the outline of the provision chamber, a removable bottom for said ice compartment providing a formed draining surface, and a second draining surface formed in the top wall of the provision chamber beneath the ice compartment.

5. A refrigerator structure, comprising, an angled provision chamber, an ice compartment hung within the angle of the provision chamber and disposed over and spaced away from the horizontally extending portion thereof, a formed'drainage tray supported within the open base of said ice compartment, and a second drainage surface formed in the top wall of said horizontally-extending portion below the tray.

6. A refrigerator structure, comprising, an angled provision chamber, an ice compartment'mounted within the angle of the provision chamber to form a squared interfitted refrigerator lining, an inwardly extending flange around the open base of said ice compartment, a removable drainage tray supported on said flange, the top wall of said provision chamber adjacent the ice compartment base formed to provide a secondary drainage surface below the tray for receiving any drippage from the inner edge of the inthe respective wardly extending flange, and means for compartment, a drainage depression formed in the provision chamber top wall beneath said ice compartment, the inner edge of said ledge disposed over said depression for directing drainage matter escaping past said tray into said depression, and means for carrying ofi said drainage matter from the respective drainage surfaces.

8. A refrigerator structure, comprising, a provision chamber, an ice com artment dis posed within the outline of tie provision chamber, a removable bottom for'said ice compartment providing a formed drainage surface, a second drainage surface formed in the top wall of the provision chamber be- I neath the ice compartment, drainage tubes zontally extending portion of the provisionchamber, an inwardly extending flange formed around the base of said ice compare ment, a drainage tray supported on said flange, a second drainage surface formed in the top wall of said horizontally extending portion below the tray, and a downwardly turned lip on said flange inner edge for di-,

recting any seepage past the tray onto /the lower drainage surface.

10. In a removable bottom for the ice compartment of a refrigerator, a base and sides therefor, said base formed to provide a central draft aperture, and a drainage depression extending around the aperture and downwardly inclined in both directions to a low drainage point, the inner upwardly sloping side of the drainage depression terminating in the aperture edge at an elevation greater than the floor of the removable bottom.

11. A refrigerator comprising a casing, a

. rectangular ice chamber above said wing portion of said provision chamber having a removable base supported in spaced relation to said cross wall, said cross wall and base each having an opening therethrough in registration and each of corresponding channel formation, about the opening providing a double drainage for said ice chamber.

12. A refrigerator comprising a casing, a sheet metal lining for said casing providing an L-shaped provision chamber presenting a wing portion with a horizontal cross wall, a second lining for said casing providing a rectangular ice chamber above said wing portion of said provision chamber having a removable base supported in spaced relatlon to said cross wall, said cross wall and base each having an opening therethrough in registration and each of corresponding channel formation about the opening providing a double drainage forsaid ice chamber, and an ice rest removably sustained upon said base overlying the opening in the base. I

13'. A refrigerator comprising a casing, a lining for said casing providing an L-shaped provision chamber presenting a wing portion with a horizontal cross wall, a second lining for said casing providing a rectangular ice chamber above said wing portion of said pro; vision chamber having a base in spaced relation to said cross wall, said cross wall and base each havin an opening therethrough in registration an each of corresponding channel formation about the opening providing a double drainage for said ice chamber.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name. i

JOHN B. KNAUSS. 

